Sunday 30 March 2014

Shire Baptist Church makes old wine in new wineskins a win(e)ner ! (sorry..)

Beautifully spacious and light main church
Usually, there is much furore when it comes to modernising a church. I've seen some rows in my time... But the superb, and seven-year-long rennovation of Shire Baptist church, ( not so much a 'rennovation' as an entire re-vitalising re-birth) was an unremitting success story. The church opened its doors to locals on Saturday and we celebrated an extraordinary achievement.

This is actually a CAKE!
 The whole church had be redesigned, and refurbished from its slightly dark, low-roofed, claustraphobic former life (which was set out beautifully in displays of wall photos).

But perhaps the most amazing thing was that the whole renovation had been done by pensioners! Designed, built, - I spoke to one lady who told me how she had been 15ft up on scaffolding wielding a roller ( and not the type you put in your hair!)

The church was magnificent testament to generations all joining together to keep the spirit of Shire Baptist church alive and kicking into a new era in a beautiful new building - airy, light, comfortable.... and I have NEVER seen such lovely ladies loos....   Ladies, you've got to give them a try! (and I'm told the Gents are pretty swanky as well, chaps...)
New Life at Shire Baptist Church

Saturday 15 March 2014

Beautiful Bristol North West

If that's not an invitation to a pint, I don't know what is...
It's easy to forget what a beautiful constituency Bristol North West is. Inbetween running about trying to 'get stuff done', I sometimes pop my head up from my blackberry to take it all in. Then I regret not taking more time to do this more often. Here's a couple of snaps taken as spring fights through winter's grip, which make my stomach go funny ( in a good way) to be the MP for this amazing place: The Victoria Pub, Chock Lane, Westbury on Trym, and a... well, no prize whatsoever, for whoever can guess where this idyllic churchyard scene is taken... 


An absolutely beautiful Bristol NW scene... but where is it?!